Every week, thousands of Howard County residents place out their trash for curbside collection. But how much of that material could have been recycled or composted? A recent County waste study provides a detailed answer.

In 2022, researchers sampled trash from across the County’s 15 curbside collection zones. What they found: organic material (food scraps, yard trim and compostables) topped the list at over 40% of household trash. Curbside recyclables (paper, plastic, metal and glass) and those accepted for recycling at Alpha Ridge Landfill or other drop-off locations (electronics, textiles, etc.) make up about 26% of the waste stream that could have been diverted from the landfill. The rest – about 32% - was a mix of materials that are not currently recoverable or recyclable (Styrofoam, construction debris, non-recyclable plastics, etc.) that had no other disposal options other than the trash. 

This breakdown helps explain why Howard County has been investing heavily in composting. Through the Feed the Green Bin program, about 58,000 households now receive weekly curbside collection of food scraps, yard trim and compostable material, along with several participating schools and County facilities. Collected organic material is transported to the Alpha Ridge Composting Facility, which uses aerated static pile technology to accelerate decomposition while controlling odor and runoff.  In 2025, the County diverted 9,872 tons of food scraps and yard trim through the Green Bin program. The finished product is sold back to residents and landscapers as HoCoGro compost, mulch, and topsoil blends.

The benefits go beyond reducing landfill use. Composting cuts methane emissions that occur when food waste is landfilled, creates local jobs, and gives residents and farmers a valuable soil amendment.

By understanding and doing right by the stuff we throw away, we can reduce trash, save landfill space, and fight climate change as a community.